(Image source from: Nepal students protest against border blockade})

As a protest against a border blockade, banners were waved by thousands of Nepalese students, who also chanted slogans in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. It is known that the border blockade caused severe fuel shortages besides pushing up the price of food.

The ring road of the city was lined up by students demanding to lift the blockade by members of the Madhesi community. The community members have been protesting over the new constitution of Nepal.

According to Madhesis, the new constitution unfairly divides the Himalayan country into seven states. They say that borders cut through their ancestral homeland. They want the states to be larger, giving more autonomy. Since four weeks, the main southern border crossing with India has been blocked by Madhesis, preventing the flow of fuel and other essentials into the country. Since August, nearly 50 people were killed in the protests. While the talks on resolution of the dispute, have not progressed enough.

Nepal relies mostly on its giant neighbor for fuel. Having close cultural ties with the Madhesis, India restricted supplies to Nepal, which accuses India of imposing an “undeclared blockade”. But India denies.

Fuel shortage led to circumstances like:

No fuel for private cars
Rationed petrol for taxis and buses by the Nepalese authorities
Extended holidays by schools
Cut down on classes.
A protesting student, 13-year-old Pramod Basnet, said, “We are here to say education is our right.”

-Sumana